I'm going to be very transparent. This ship has invaded my brain since midday though The Princess Dragon Bride.

The Prince's Future

Chapter 1: Under the Starry Sky

Reckless, they had been far too reckless, and now that bastard had managed to slip away from them. The armies that pulled themselves from the earth tried to stand in their way. But their magical weapons made quick work of them.

Then a beam of light shot down from the heavens. He recognized that light, an outrealm portal, had been ripped open. "He's making a break for it!"

"I'll give you an opening." His comrade carved a path through them, tearing through the masses like a hurricane, fearsome and hungry. That had given him just enough space to cleave through the last remaining wall keeping them from the retreating mage.

However just as his feet hit the floor, the brief moment the two locked eyes. He watched as that smug wretch flashed him a malicious grin, then let himself fall into the open rift. He reached out but his metal fingers only grazed the edges of his coat, before he vanished into the flow of magical energy.

With his disappearance, the armies he had summoned collapsed into the earth they came from. His comrade rushed over to his side as the sickly and unsettling wisps of purple magic began to change into a shimmering brilliant white. He watched as the wicked runes shifted into a pale and almost sacred script. Palutena's doing, surely.

He turned to face the duel-wielding giant who had accompanied him here. He didn't know where this outrealm led to but he couldn't allow that cur to ruin another world. "I'm going after him." He heard a grunt, a worried acknowledgment.

He took a step forward, he felt as if he was standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a bottomless void. "Oh, and Rex," he turned to face his friend, "if I'm not back soon, come find me, and whatever you do keep the others away from here."

"Good Luck, Shulk," was the last thing he heard as he fell into the magical portal, drowning as it ripped his senses from him.

Shulk pulled his coat closed a bit more, the fur lining the inside and the edges of the lapels helped keep some of the early winter chill off of him. However, this year's winter seemed to be a tad bit more aggressive. Mentally he prayed for an early spring, but knew with this kind of chill it might overstay its welcome.

He had grown a bit worried when he didn't find the prince in his room or even passed out in the library. And without the sound of music to guide him, he could only hope the prince would be in the secret garden.

He had been right, partially. He saw the prince the moment he crossed under the large stone archway to the training grounds. However, he didn't expect to find the prince actually training, least of all in this cold.

The prince was working on a new technique. As gracefully as a dancer the prince slashed and stabbed an imaginary enemy. His footwork was immaculate, all the while agilely dashing in and out of the phantom enemy's range, resulting in him surging forward and landing a deathly blow, leaving a small hole in the training dummies' chest.

And at the end of that dashing performance, the prince frowned, taking the edge of his tunic and wiping down his forehead. Shulk chose then to announce his presence. Marth had dropped his shirt but had yet to close it properly. "Ah, Shulk, what are you doing here at this hour?"

Shulk tried to keep his eyes up. Had the prince always had such defined abs, or was it a trick of the light? "I was about to ask you the same," he produced a water flask he had tucked in his coat and offered it to the prince, "in this time of year no less."

Marth's face pinkened only slightly as he took it and drank deeply before responding, "To get the blood flowing." He was smiling at Shulk but he was nervous, clearly lying.

"Without telling a soul?" Shulk raised an eyebrow. "This is unlike you."

"Nothing gets past you," Marth let out a sigh, "I feel I've improved substantially since we've started sparing, I guess I don't want to lose that progress."

Shulk smiled, "All you need to do is ask, and I could have moved your schedule around, I'm sure Sir Robin wouldn't mind taking on a bit more work."

"You don't have to." Marth shyly scratched the back of his head, clearly unaware he forgot to close his tunic. "At least let me do it, although I feel you might have a point."

"Hmm?" Shulk motioned for the prince to continue.

"Perhaps training at this hour isn't the best idea." he returned the practice blade to the weapon's rack before following Shulk.

"Perhaps after breakfast?" Shulk couldn't help but chuckle. This only made the prince's face redden a little more. Shulk shook his head. "Ah before I forget." He walked alongside the prince as they walked no doubt to the prince's room, "Your father has organized a trip to the hot springs for your sister's honeymoon."

As they reached the prince's room Shulk opened the door letting Marth make a beeline for his dresser. "Is there any chance I can stay home?"

Shulk followed him inside as talking through the door felt strange. "Not this time, I'm afraid." He closed his eyes and distracted himself with mental notes as he could hear the prince change into a set of clean clothes. Then he remembered something, this trip might just be an unexpected blessing. "Although I promise you, it'll be worth it."

"Oh?" The sound of Marth closing his wardrobe told Shulk he was ready, and when he opened his eyes he found the prince adjusting a fur-lined cloak over his shoulders. "Well, I trust you'll make it worth it."

"I'm honored you trust me that much," He took a step closer to the prince helping adjust the cloak's fasten. "We'll be leaving around noon."

"Alright," he looked pensive as they both started towards the kitchens, "that should give me enough time to get a bit of work done before breakfast."

"Actually," Shulk flushed slightly, "I may have accidentally woken up Fiora while looking for you so, she told me I had an hour to find you or …"

Marth laughed, "Best not keep her waiting then. Care to join me?"

"It would be an honor."

Robin had come to learn a few things since moving into the castle. He learned roughly what time breakfast was meant to be, and that the staff didn't play around. He learned that the library was far more occupied than he remembered it being, though it had still remained just as peaceful. He had to learn the route to Chrom's new room, or rather the Exalt's bed chamber. And he relearned just how cute Chrom was when he slept.

At this very moment, Chrom snuggled into the second pillow, the one meant for Robin, himself. It took Chrom a moment to register that his other half was no longer sharing his bed. He sat up instantly and looked around, catching Robin leaning against the doorway.

"Good Morning" Robin smiled as he returned to their shared bed. "Sleep well?"

Chrom relaxed then and peered towards the window checking to see which one of them had overslept. "Since when do you wake up before me?"

"What can I say, I'm just excited for today." He plopped himself down beside Chrom, "After all, we had a lot of fun the last time we were at a hot spring.'' He fixed Chrom with a coy smile. Oh how he loved it when Chrom's face changed color, the blush even reaching his ears.

Chrom swallowed down any embarrassment and with a playful smile said, "I'm not letting you get away this time."

That had caught Robin a bit off guard. He felt so shy then. So he still wasn't going to let that go, was he? "Well, I guess you're just going to have to work a little harder."

Chrom's face pinkened again and this time he had nothing else to say, checkmate. Robin reveled in his momentary victory before he remembered why he had come to wake his other half. "Better get a move on, I told the kids we'd be leaving by noon, the girls were pretty excited to see what we planned to do."

"You didn't tell them we'd be heading to a hot spring?" Chrom began to get out of bed and Robin lingered on the Exalt as he got ready.

"I thought it would be a fun surprise." Robin reluctantly got out of the bed. "Best not keep them waiting."

Corrin was over the moon, she had expected the hot spring to be similar to the last time she was in one, if not a little warmer. She hadn't been prepared for the bliss that awaited her. She was in heaven.

The part that made it better was Lucina. Now she was able to enjoy her time alone with her wife. Sure, Pyra was still somewhere in the hot spring but she didn't seem interested in interfering.

Lucina tucked a lock of Corrin's hair behind her ear, waking her wife from her drowsy stupor. "Corrin, wake up."

Corrin pouted, "Do we have to leave already?"

"We've been here for hours," Lucina chuckled, but when Corrin's pout didn't sway her she continued, "Let's take a break for dinner, at least."

"Just a little longer?"

Corrin tried to give Lucina her best pleading puppy look, but her wife only shook her head. "Come on, I have a surprise."

Corrin pulled herself out of the hot water she found her wife already waiting on the other side of the changing doors. When she opened them, her heart damn nearly stopped.

Lucina was wrapped up in a lovely dark blue kimono, a pale blue Mark of the Exalt pattern along the entire thing. A pale blue Obi, wrapped around her waist. She was stunning and regal. Truly Corrin felt lucky to have her as her wife.

Lucina then motioned for the basket with the clothes she had prepared for Corrin, "Go on."

Corrin began to dress herself revealing a stunning blue kimono of her own, one whose rich blue color faded into a soft pale blue. The Obi that came with it was a stunning white that matched Corrin's hair. It even came with a matching coat, haori. "It's beautiful!" Corrin loved the silky texture and flowy feeling of the oversized sleeves. "I love it."

"I thought you would." Lucina smiled and gently took her hand, "Come on, Dad's waiting."

Corrin beamed and followed her wife. They made their way from the hot spring to one of the private rooms. They knocked and waited for Chrom to answer and when they were given the all-clear, they entered.

As they had expected Chrom was adjusting his own kimono and Robin was fanning his face, but the pink had yet to leave his cheeks. She glanced at her wife who only shook her head. She's right, maybe they shouldn't bring it up.

Chrom smiled brightly, clearly keen on dispelling any awkward tension. "You two enjoying your trip?"

Corrin eagerly nodded, "It's absolutely wonderful. Far better than I had expected."

"That's wonderful to hear." Robin smiled and motioned for them to sit at a nearby table. It was a bit different than the ones she was used to but the look and smell of the food was quick to dispel any and all other thoughts.

Lucina took her seat next to her wife, and after a moment spoke up, "Where's Marth? I thought I saw him earlier."

That caught Corrin's attention, now that she thought about it, she hadn't seen either Marth or Shulk this entire trip. Granted she had napped through the carriage ride and was quick to bolt for the springs, so she shouldn't be surprised. But, hearing Lucina hadn't heard from either of them, did worry her at least a little bit.

Robin spoke up then, "Ah yes, he and Shulk left the spring a moment ago, said they would be skipping dinner."

Chrom nodded and awkwardly tried to place something on his plate. "He didn't mention where they would go but Shulk has been a member of the castle staff for years. I'm sure they are fine."

Lucina nodded, "Marth has been training lately, I'm sure they can handle anything that comes their way."

Corrin still mused. If she had a tail it would be coiling. "They did take weapons at least, right?"

That had left the entire table in a tense silence.

A long silence.

Bitter and awkward.

"I'm sure they'll be fine."

Marth was very pleasantly surprised to learn that the temperature of this resort was warmer than expected. The winter chill didn't seem to spread this far. Perhaps it was how close they were to Mount Prism or maybe it was something else, but he was thankful his kimono's haori was enough to fight off any lingering chill he may have had.

He followed Shulk's crimson scarf, outlined by the light of the prince's lamp, he had insisted on bringing it and now Marth understood why. They made their way in between trees occasionally stepping off the path. Why? Marth didn't know but he was sure Shulk wasn't lost.

"Found it." Shulk pushed a few branches out of the way to let Marth through. It was a small clearing, on a cliffside. The view was breathtaking, showing off the holy mountain in the distance and the vastness of the sea, reflecting the amazing infinite canvas of the sky and stars.

"This is amazing." Marth was lost in that endless blanket of stars, each and every one rushing into his mind with a name and story. He turned to face Shulk and found him arranging a picnic. Complete with thermoses that Marth knew would be filled with tea. "You did all this?"

"Well," Shulk removed his scarf and stared off into the sky, "I figured we would be here a while."

Marth took a seat beside Shulk on the plush quilt he had brought with him. "What exactly are we waiting for?"

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you," the seer chuckled to himself before gently taking the ruby cross around his neck into his palm. "I may have been shown something I thought you might want to see."

"And you're going to make me wait, to find out what that is aren't you?" Marth couldn't keep the smile off his face as Shulk only replied with a playful smirk. "So cruel."

Marth used that moment to take in Shulk's appearance. It felt as if he was looking at him for the first time in a long while. His hair had grown out just a bit, not too much to be obvious, but it had started to reach his chin. He was given a simple red kimono, with a gray obi. The haori was a simple gray, nothing much to notice and yet it all seemed to capture his attention. It suited him, although Marth wasn't sure if he had ever seen Shulk wear something that didn't suit him.

Marth in contrast envied Shulk for that. He often felt awkward in anything too extravagant, his own kimono was identical to his sister's and he felt a bit awkward in it. All he really had was a pale blue haori with the exalt brand on the back. He wondered faintly if he should have it remade, but thought better of it.

Then something caught Marth's eye, he sat up and noticed, emerging from the bushes and trees, were small little lights. Fireflies.

One playfully landed on Shulk's nose, startling him out of his meditative trance. Marth couldn't hold back the faint chuckle in the back of his throat at the small noise Shulk made at being startled.

Marth then returned his gaze to oversee everything around them. It's been a while since he'd seen fireflies. All of the years he had confined himself to his office had robbed him of their presence. He missed trying to gather them with his sister, he reveled in those nostalgic memories.

When a warm flask was placed into his hand, he found himself looking up at Shulk who then started digging through the basket. "Almost forgot to eat." Marth took one of the sandwiches Shulk handed him and returned to the view.

They ate in comfortable silence when Marth finally chose to say something. "Really, Shulk, this is a lot of effort for one night."

"Trust me. It gets better." Shulk returned to watching the stars. "There!"

Marth followed Shulk's gaze and found a bright streak of light soaring through the sky. Followed by another, and then another. Very soon the entire sky was alive with ribbons of white in the vast dark blue sea. A Meteor shower, a real and true meteor shower.

"You're right," his heart was racing as a huge smile overtook his face. "This is amazing."

"Told you." Marth could hear the smile on Shulk's face. There really wasn't anything that could have prepared him for this.

"Thank you, Shulk," he would hold this night in his heart for the rest of his life.

"It's what I do."

AN/ Starting off this story right. Anyways, yes, I hope you'll join me for this very ambitious sequel to PDB.

Fun Fact:

1. Marth and Lucina's Kimonos are based on Lucina's In-game art for The Fire Emblem Awakening, Hot Spring Scramble DLC. although I added the coat.

2. Corrin's is based on the one Female Kana in Fire Emblem Heroes, the one for the New Year's event, mostly cuz Female Corrin doesn't have a kimono alt, and that is a shame.

Anyway, I hope you'll join me for chapter two, see you all later, and have a wonderful day.

~ (3/24/2024)